Seed-corn grader.



C. EUNNIGUTT.

SEED CGRN GRADER.

' Ar'rnuumn nun) AUG. 22, mo.

' Patented Feb. '7, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. HUNNIGUTT.

SEED CORN GRADEB.

APPLICATION nun we. 22. mo.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

$244744 Maw/z Jaw/um Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

-G. HUNNIOUTT. SEED CORN GBADEB. nruonxox nun um. 2:3, 1910.

Patented Feb. 7, 191 1.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

g; twrrnn s'rafrns To all whom zt may concern:

lie it known that I, CHARLES I'IUXNICU'IT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at l\"ihnington. in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have inrentcd a new and useful Improvement in Seed-Corn Graders, of which the following a specification.

My invention relates toseed corn graders of the rotary type, and the ohiect of the same is to produce a device that will readily separate from a mass'oi kernels of corn those ll'ernels that do not conform in size and shape to the size and shape of the cells in the droppinp mechanism of corn planting nun-hintsor in other words. that will grade lfil'liilr of seed corn as to thickness and astowidth,eliminating the smaller, thinner. and almornially large or irregular :shapeel kernel from t'hclarger symmetrical one which latter are more desirable for plat-ring and re roduction, besides being utlu Led to he dropped far more lllllf()l.'ll'tl h v planting machines than is possible with unguided corn. I

Referring to in? patent for seed corn grader No. SilJlO, July-3, 1906, I show a fcou truction with two screen drums aranged tandem. the end of one connected {with the end of the. other, and the initial mass of corn being delivered into the end of the upper and smaller apertnred screen drum. This upper screen-drum eliminates the small and narrow kernels. The remain- .tlCl' oi the corn is carried, h the rotation of the screens. into the lower large apertured scrcma-druni, through the apertures of -which.' all enrept the abnormally large kernels pas, said almornially large kernels heing di charged at the open eudof the lower screen-drum. .\'on' it is well known that a screen with small apertures is slower in its action than a screen of like size-with larger apertures, and owing to the peculiar shapes of kernels of corn. and also owing to the fact; that in grading corn as to width of kernel, the kernels must he lllfltlt} to enter the apertures ofth'e small apertnred screen vertically. this difference in workingspecd of the ftwo kinds of screens is more pronounced in the grading of corn than in other grains.

;. .In the use of the above device I have SEED-CORN GRADER.

, Specification 01' hetters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1910. Serial No. 573.419.

PATEN OFFICE- i f r a, CHARLES nomucn'r'r,

F WILMINGTON. OHIO.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

! found that'thc upper screen section, which has the smaller aperturtis, is much slower in its action on the corn to he graded, than the lower screen section. and it does not fully complete its work before the corn is carried into the lower screen seetion, thns resulting in imperfect work. \Vhile.this .ditiiculty might. in a measure. be remedied by matcrially increasing the length of the upper screen section, yet this would make the machine too long and cur-ilwrsome, as well as, more expensive to manufacture. My present device overcomes this dilliculty'l'iy a construction in which the small aperturcd slow acting screen is made larger in diameter than the more rapid acting one, and the rapid acting screen is placed within the slower acting one, thus giving to the slow acting screen the greater screening, area. by virtue of its greater circumference. This arrangement also permits of the initial mass of corn being delivered to the inner rapid acting screen first, which, by performing its function first, lessens the quantity of corn for the outer slower acting screeh to handle, thereby enabling said outer screen to perform its function better and more rapidly.

Other objects and particular advantages of this invention will he clearly brought out or suggested in the course of the ensuing specification.

The preferred manner ofdctailconstruction for carrying out the general idea of this invention is described below and shown in i the accompanyin three sheets of drawings in. which- Figure- 1, is a side elevation of my improved seed corn grader. Fig. 2. is an enlarged fragment or section of the inner screen. Fig. 3, is an enlarged fragment or section of the. outer screen. Fig. l, is a l cross section of the inner screen showing the corrugations and position of the apertures therein. Fig.5 is a cross section of a fragment of the top part of the outer screen showing the corrugations and the position of the apertures therein. Fig. 6, is a lon -itudinal section of the drum portion of t e device taken on the line XX of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an end view of the drum portion of the device taken on the line Y Y of Fi all 1. Fig. 8, is an end View of the drum porconstruction.

- tal connecting bars 4. In the tion of the device taken on the line ZZ of Fig. 1. Fig. 9, shows a modification in the construction of the lower end of the drum portion of the device. Figs. 10 and 11 show modifications of inner screen construction. Fig. 12 shows modifications of outer screen Fig. 13, is a cross section taken on line aa of Fig. 12. Fig. 14, is a cross section taken on line c-,= Fig. 12.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My device is contained within a frame composed of end uprights l and 2, a to connecting bar 3, and intermediate horizonupper part of said frame a shaft 5 is rotatably mount- Y ed in the uprights 1 and 2 and provided I with a crank 6. The shaft 5 has a screw 12 bet-ween the two.

feed 7 mounted on it just inside the upright 1, to feed the corn to the inner screen, and immediately above said screw feed is an -open ended tube 8 in communication with a hopper 9 on the connecting bar 3.

Twolongitudinal corrugated screen drums '10 and. 11 are horizontally mounted about the shaft- 5 within the frame, one screen drum surrounding the other with a space Said drums are supported at the upper end by the two disks 13 and 14 connected to a cross bar 15. The lower end of said drums are supported by a ring member 16 connected to a cross bar 1?.

The disk 13 has permanentl attached to it on its inner side a smaller disk 14: to-the perimeter of which is attached the upper end (if the inner screen drum 10. The lower end of said inner screen drum is left open and is attached to the inner periphery 'of the ring member 16 to which is attached of the disk 13 and the other to the perimeter of the ring member .6. Said ring member 16 serves to support the screen drums, to space them apart, and to close the end of the space 12 between the screen drums.

The two connected disks 13 and 14 are'provided with accntral opening 18 leading to the inside of the inner screen drum. Leading through this central opening 18 to the inner screen is a conductor tube 19 which incloses the screw feed 7 and is attached to the frame upright 1, and is in communication with the open ended tube 8.

In the valleys of the corrugations of the inner screen 10 are formed a large number of apertures 20, said apertures being approximately 7/32 of an inch wide and about 1 inch long, said width being commonly regarded as the maximum thickness of standard kernels of corn. The length of said apertures 20 is immaterial, except that they should be at least as long as the width of the larger kernels of corn.

In the valleys of the corrugations of the monly regarded as the minimum thickness of standard kernels of corn.

Near the lower end of'the outer screen 11, andbeyond its screening openings, are formed lar e openings 23 for the discharge of the graded corn from tl e space 12 between the screen drums, sai discharge openings being located directly above an inclined trough 24.

Supported by the connecting bars 4 and the frame uprights Land 2 are inclined discharge troughs 24, 25, and 26, terminating in spouts 27, 28,- and 29. The inclined trough 24 is located directly beneath the discharge openings 23 of the outer screen, to receive the graded corn discharged from the space 12 between the screen drums. The inclined trough 25 is located directly in front of the open end of the inner screen drum, to receive the corn discharged from the same. The inclined trough 26 is located directly beneath the screening portion of 'the outer screen, to receive the corn passing through the apertures of said outer screen.

When the discharge end of the screen drums is constructed as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the screening openings of the outer screen 11 may be continued to or near the lower end of the screen, and instead of the ring member 16, supports 30 may be employed to support and space drums apart, thus leaving the lower end of the space 12 between the screen drums open for the discharge of he graded corn. In this event, to prevent t e corn from the inner screen being discharged in the same trough with the graded corn, the inner screen 10 is provided with a spout extending outward beyond the end of the outer screen.

Before explaining the operation of my device I will here state that kernels of seed corn may be divided according to size. and shape, into four distinct classes. First, the abnormally thick irregular shaped kernels. Second,t-he largesymmetricalkernels. (This class constitutes the'bulk of the corn. and may he termed the standard kernels.) Third, the abnormally thin kernels, that may be as the screen wide as the standard kernels. Fourth, the

. aiuall kernels.

In this class are found kernels of various shapes and sizes. ranging: from those that are as long and as thick as standard kernels. hut narrower, on down to very small rounddike ones.

To grade corn to thickness of kernel, the kernels must he made to enter the aperturea edgewise: and to grade to width of kernel. they must he made to enter the apertures endwise.

My device accomplishes the separation and grading as follo\*.-;:-\\-'hen a quantit ot' shelled corn is placed into the hopper J and the crank (5 rotated the screw feed 7 carries the'eorn through the -conductor tube 19 and delivers it. into the inner screen drum 10, through the apertures $0 of said inner screen, the smallest kernels readily fall to the outer screen 11. By the rotation, the remainder of the corn is distributed over the surface of the inner screen, and by the aid of the corrugations, which serve. as inclines to the apertures to turn the kernels up edgewise. all except the'ahnormally thick kernels are made to pass through the apertures 20 of the inner screen to the outer screen 11. -The abnormally thick kernels intercepted by the. inner screen are. by the rotation of the screen, graduall carried forward and discharged through the open end of thesereen into the inclined trough 27 from which they pass out atthe. spout 28. The inner screen thus grades the corn as to thickness of kernel.

()f the corn that falls from the inner acreen to the outer screen the smallest kernels and these that may he of standard length orthicl-:ne.-t.-r, but narr-finver than is de.-.ired for planting. are eliminated through the round tlptl'ttll'fli '21 into the inclined trough 26 from which they pa: s out at the spout 29. The diameter or length of these run. d apertures 21 i.-: such as to prevent the passage of kernels that are of a width deemed desirable for need and planting. And these round aperture-1 thereforeg aide to width of kernel. The long narrow apertures .52 of the outer screen eliminate the abnormally thin kernels that are an ideas the standard kernels and which could therefore not pass through the round apertnreasaid thin kernels fall into I the same inrlined trough 2G with the small kernels and pass with them out at the spout 28'). each being undesi able for seed.

The eorrngationa of the outer screen, as with the inner screen, serve an; inclinesv to the apertures, to turn' the kernels in an upright position so theycan readily enter the, apertures in the required manner.

The kernels that are too wide to pass through the round apertures 21, and too -wi le a the tandard kernels and since kernels of this kind are not found in corn to any extent. except in certain localities, or in certain rarietiw of corn. this long narrow aperture may he omitted from the devic for use where such kernels are not pr ent.

As the function of the round aperture 21 in the outer er en is to grade the. kernels asr to width. thi width being determined by the diameter or length of the aperture, and while a round aperture best serres this purpose. yet apertures of other forms may be emplo ed instead. as for inatauee, oval, ellipt cal, or rectangular apertures may he employed provided they are substantially as wide as the apertures of the inner sereein and the ame length as the diameter of the round aperturea They must he as wide as th 1 apertures of the inner screen (and may he wider) in order to permit the passage of narrow kernels that are often as thi k as standard kernels.

The. function of the corrugatiom of the.

screens being to form inclinealeading to the arm-lures. instead of corrugationx suitable inclines may he forn'ied in a smooth surface '-:erecn. by pressing the edges of the apertures down and outward. than forming. in a sense. a fllllllLhElltlllQll or countersunk aperture an shown in Fig. 12. The inner art-en may also he formed of longitudinal strips or liars. either oral or triangular in cro.-.; section as :hown in Figs. 10 and ll. which would serYc tlie ':1iiie purpore. of turning' the kernels up edgewise.

While the dimension of the rcreenin; openings as herein stated are such as to'produce a grade of kernel: that. are commonly regarded as standardor desi able to plant. et. as the minimum width or thickne=s of kernels that may he deemed desirable for seed is a matter of opinion and not governed hy any not rule. the same also heing true of kernel-cells in planting machine the dimensions or the screening' openings here given may he varied somewhat as opinion or necessity may demand.

Other changes in detail construction could he made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as for instance, the screen thick to pass through the narrow aperturee drums could he made triangular, rectangular, or polygonal in cross section, and the screens may he made of other than sheet- ;:n1'otal. The size and proportion of the parts may also be varied to suit, the requirements when desired to use this device for separatmg or grading other material than corn. wl rom the foreman" dcserijtion and explanation it may be seen that the advantagesef my construction over other devices of this class is, first, a geater relative screeningvarea in the slower acting screen, at the same time a material decrease in the ii size of the machine for by placing one screen drum within the other, the length of the to.hanclle. Third, the smallest kernels being the first to fall through the inner screen they get to the apertures of the outer'screen quickly and being unimpeded by the larger of the small-kernels,"which are slower in falling through, are eliminated more readily than if the initial mass of corn were delivered t0 the slower acting screen first. Fourth, the relative speed and elliciency of the two screens is harmonized, tlltlt lfi, by increasing the speed and efliciency of the slower acting screen as stated and shown,it

is enabled .to perform its function substantially asfast; as the inner screen, thereby materially increasing the efficiency of the device a. whole. Fifth, a more compact construction, a lessened cost of manufacture;

and a device more convenient to handle.

,lVhile the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purpose tor which they are intended, it is to be understood that'the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may he made within the scope of the appended "1. A seed corn grader-comprising in coin- P bination two rotatable screens of different size, the larger surromnling the sm-eening area of the smaller with a space between the two', said. 's'baceheing closed at both ends.

"the inner'ot'jsaid screens being open at one end, and provided with oblong screening opemngs of a given ,wzdth, and the outer screen being provided with screening open- ;lngssubstantially as Wide as those of the inner screen, but shorter than the same, a frame supportingsaid screens for rotation,

means for 'elelivering the eorn to the inner wreen, and discharge openings; in said outer ween, near-one'e'nd. for the delivery of the corn from the space between the scrcensrfi 4 r Q z 2. A rotary seed corn grader comprising in combination two screen drums of differopenings of a given width, and the outer screen drum being rovidcd with screening openings substantialy as wide as those of the inner screen, but shorter than the same,

ing openings therein, means for delivering the corn to said inner screen, and suitable I means ferrotating said screen drums.

in combination two screen drums of ditfer-- ent size, the larger surrounding the smaller {with a space between the two, the innersrreen drum being provided with oblong screening openings'of a given width and the outer screen drum heing provided with screening openings substantially as wide those of the inner screen drinmbnt-shorter than the same. the screenbody of the outer leading to thcscreening openings therein, means-for delivering the'corn to said inner screen drum,"-an'd suitable means ing said screen drums." I 1 4. A seed corn grader comprising in combination two rotatalile screens of'ditlerent size, the larger-surrounding the smaller with a space betwe'enthe' two,'the inner of said screens being prorided"with oblong screening openings that are greater in length but substantiallyno greater in width than the screening openings of the outer screen. a. frame supporting said screens. for rotatiomaneans 'for delii'ering the-corn to said inner screen, and a, discharge opening leading roin the space between-the screens.

5. A'seedcornfgrader comprising in combination two: rotatable screens of different size, the larger surrounding the smaller with a space between the two, the innerxot said screens being provided with coarse apertures, and the outer screen being provided with finer apertures than those of the inner screen, the screen body of said inner screen being formed with inclines leading to the apertures therein, afranie supporting said screens for rotation, means for delivering the corn to the inner scrcem'a-nd a discharge opening leading from the space.between the screens. v

6. A rotary seed corngrader comprising in cnmbinati011 two screen drums of different size. the larger surrounding the smaller with a space between the two, the inner of said screen drums being provided with oblong screening openings, and the oilter of said screen drumsbeing provided'with a number of screening openings interspersed i rotary seed c rn grader comprising ent size, the larger sn'rounitling the smaller, with a space between the-two,the nmcr' screen drum being provided with oblong the screen body of said inner screen-being formed with nclines leading 'to the scree of said screens being formedwith inclines for rotat with other openings that are greater in length but less in width than said first named openings, suitable means for delivermg the corn to said inner screen drum, and means for rotating said screen drums.

7. A rotary seed corn grader comprising in combination two screen drumsof different size; the larger surrounding the smaller with a space between the two, the inner of said screen drums being provided with 0blong screening openings, and the outer of Sfll( screen drums being provided with a number of screening openings interspersed with other screening openings that" are reater'in length but less in width the/1 said first named openings, the screen bodv 0i said inner screen being formed with inclines leading to the screening openings/flierein and means for rotating said screen drnm CHARLES HI XNECUT'I Y \Vitnesses: I I

' H. G. CKfi fwmGn'r, JOE T. Don's 

